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Bagadia
Stranger



Registered: 05/24/14
Posts: 5
Last seen: 5 years, 6 months
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Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis)
#22104430 - 08/17/15 08:45 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hey, I'm looking at this fungus Corn Smut that's been growing on my corn and I'm totally shocked having never seen this before. I found this clump of fungus, which I pulled from the infected corn stalk and is depicted in these photos. As you can see, the fungus is on the corn cob, inside the husk/skin layers of the plant. The host plant seems saturated, turning black and being killed by the fungus, so I've pulled the entire plant out of the ground in order to prevent the fungus from spreading to neighbor corn plants ( I'm unsure if that's going to stop infection). I've never eaten these before so I think I'll try them cooked like done before in Mexican dishes. Has anyone else ever seen this growing? What are the fungi doing to my corn?
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Ran-D



Registered: 12/19/10
Posts: 16,313
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Bagadia]
#22104439 - 08/17/15 08:48 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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It's not uncommon. I've never tried it but I hear good things.
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matsc
Stranger



Registered: 09/17/12
Posts: 681
Loc: Arizona
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Ran-D]
#22104488 - 08/17/15 08:59 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Personally I'm not really a fan (it tastes a bit like mud to me) but it's popular enough in certain circles. Clearing out the plant is certainly a step in the right direction to help limit the infection, though its not a guarantee that it wont pop up in other plants where it may already have been established.
As for the info:
http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/Basidiomycetes/Pages/CornSmut.aspx
Here you are, plenty of info to get you started. If you want more in depth than that let me know and I can dig up some articles for you. I work with the plant path department at school so it tends to pop up in class fairly frequently.
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Lucis
Nutritional Yeast

Registered: 03/28/15
Posts: 15,622
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Bagadia]
#22104494 - 08/17/15 09:01 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I was thinking about looking for some of these soon, since there's so much corn around my area. I have never tried them, so would be fun to do so.
If you try some report back with how it was.
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Bagadia
Stranger



Registered: 05/24/14
Posts: 5
Last seen: 5 years, 6 months
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: matsc]
#22114495 - 08/19/15 10:19 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yeah... the infection seems to have grown on other plants too, since I've been putting it off for a few days now. There are now even bigger clumps in some of the corn.
I will check that article out. Thanks for sharing it!
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Bud Fuggins
Bolete picker



Registered: 09/11/14
Posts: 251
Loc: I used to live in Little ...
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Bagadia]
#22114640 - 08/19/15 11:00 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I love corn smut. They have it at a Mexican restaurant near me. It has a mildly sweet nutty flavor that tastes like bisporus a bit as well.
Edited by Bud Fuggins (08/19/15 11:03 PM)
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morbiddoctor
Frilly fungal fruiter



Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 1,021
Loc: seattle, wa
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Bud Fuggins]
#22661156 - 12/15/15 10:23 PM (8 years, 1 month ago) |
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How likely is it that this fungus can be collected for spores? I'd love to give it a shot next summer.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,276
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Quote:
morbiddoctor said: How likely is it that this fungus can be collected for spores?
Very likely, it is full of spores.
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morbiddoctor
Frilly fungal fruiter



Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 1,021
Loc: seattle, wa
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Should have worded that better lol. I meant to ask if the last poster could collect them, I'm on the prowl for some.
-------------------- Trade list Updated 12/20/15 Ranco temperature controller and Wagner steamer for pasteurization in trade list! I'm looking for eyecatching, colorful, unique and interesting fungi. Not limited to edible or medicinal. Print them when you're on foray and pm me please!
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asukawashere
Stranger
Registered: 10/16/15
Posts: 89
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis) [Re: Bagadia]
#22662545 - 12/16/15 10:36 AM (8 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Bagadia said:I've never eaten these before so I think I'll try them cooked like done before in Mexican dishes.
See, I wouldn't so much view this as an "infection" as it is a marketing opportunity. Write up a sign calling it "Mexican corn truffle," bring it to the nearest farm market or gourmet restaurant, and proceed to sell it. At least it would work where I live—it's foodie central here. Your mileage may vary.
You can even point out its health benefits.
…Or can some to give to your friends as Xmas gifts. Nothing like a little fungus-riddled corn to show you care!
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